Housing

University of California, Berkeley students search for apartments in Berkeley on March 29, 2022. Photo by Eric Risberg, AP Photo

Housing

Rents soared 151%. Under California’s new law, tenants are getting a refund

Tenants complained about steep rent increases from a Silicon Valley landlord. Now, 20 of them will get a refund under a state rent control law.

By

Ben Christopher

• June 14, 2023

Residential buildings in San Francisco on March 4, 2020. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

Housing

Is housing a human right? California voters could decide

More than 170,000 people are homeless in California. Some Democrats want to make the state the nation’s first to declare housing a human right, but opponents worry it would be costly.

By

Marisa Kendall

• June 13, 2023

Downtown Fresno on June 17, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Why Fresno? This California downtown has a $250 million earmark in Gavin Newsom’s budget

The money will go to infrastructure, parking, and other investments city leaders say would lure residential developers to downtown.

By

Nicole Foy

• June 7, 2023

Protesters surround the LA Superior Court to prevent an upcoming wave of evictions and call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to pass an eviction moratorium in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, 2020. Photo by Lucy Nicholson REUTERS

Housing

California rent relief is still available for thousands of tenants who were denied COVID assistance

Thousands of Californians who lost work during the pandemic are struggling with debt. A new settlement makes COVID rent relief available to tens of thousands of tenants.

By

Ben Christopher

• June 6, 2023

A high-rise apartment tower stands behind single-family homes near Wilshire Boulevard and 6th Street in Santa Monica on May 24, 2023. Photo by Zaydee Sanchez for CalMatters

Housing

‘Godzilla next door’: How California developers gained new leverage to build more homes

A new interpretation of an old law gives homebuilders leverage over California cities and their zoning codes. They’re using it to push through thousands of new apartments around the state.

By

Ben Christopher

• June 5, 2023

A house burns on Platina Road at the Zogg Fire near Ono in 2020. Photo by Ethan Swope, AP Photo

Housing

State Farm won’t sell new home insurance in California. Can the state shore up the market?

Wildfires and expensive rebuilding wiped out profits among California home insurers. State Farm isn't the first insurer to retreat from the state, and may not be the last.

By

Ben Christopher

and

Grace Gedye

• May 31, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses the media during a press conference announcing new gun legislation targeting the state's public carry laws on Feb. 1, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Housing

California Democrats sideline Gavin Newsom’s plan to build big things faster

Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled out a plan to speed construction of major public infrastructure and demanded quick votes from lawmakers. His Democratic allies put the proposals on ice.

By

Marisa Kendall

and

Julie Cart

• May 25, 2023

Gladys Balcazar in her apartment in Imperial Beach on April 18, 2023. Balcazar, who puts 83% of her income toward rent, is a single mom living with her son who has a disability. Photo by Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters

California Divide

Corporate landlord’s California buying spree alarms tenants: ‘I only earn enough to pay the rent’

Two years ago, Blackstone bought 66 relatively low-rent apartment buildings in San Diego County from a charitable foundation. Tenants of those 5,800 dwellings say they see rent increases, maintenance issues and evictions in their futures.

By

Alejandro Lazo

and

Wendy Fry

• May 24, 2023

A drone provides a view of water pumped from the Harvey O. Banks Delta Pumping Plant into the California Aqueduct at 9,790 cubic feet per second after January storms. The facility located in Alameda County and lifts water into the California Aqueduct. Jan. 20, 2023. Photo by Ken James, California Department of Water Resources

Environment

Gavin Newsom wants to make it easier to build roads, dams and more. What’s in his plan?

The governor's building plan would adjust an environmental law known for stalling housing, dams and other projects. One environmental group said, "we have never been more disappointed in a California governor than we are with Gov. Newsom."

By

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and

• May 19, 2023

Housing

Problems at your mobile home park? Here’s how to alert California officials

California officials depend largely on residents filing complaints to find out about health and safety problems at mobile home parks. Here’s how to file a complaint.

By

Manuela Tobias

• May 18, 2023